Mobility
THE GHENT FESTIVITIES: HOW TO REACH THEM?
Every day, on average 100.000 people come to Ghent for the Ghent Festivities’. The City of Ghent, the Flemish Transport Company De Lijn and the Belgian railway company NMBS leave no stone unturned to organise the journey to and from the Ghent Festivities area in an optimal way. Here you will find all transport options.
By bus
The Flemish Transport Company De Lijn has an excellent offer to bring you to the Ghent Festivities area. Do you come by car? Make it easy on yourself: park at the P+R at Flanders Expo and take the tram to the city centre and back, round the clock! You will find more information about P+R under ‘car + public transport. You can also come by bus, since the most important city Lines will continue their services especially longer than normal, even after 1 a.m..
Partygoers can return home with the special Festivities buses.
Festivities buses at Gent Zuid
The special Festivities buses depart like each year at Gent Zuid, each time at 0.30 a.m., 2.15 a.m. and 4 a.m.
This way you travel safely and smoothly to:
1 Waarschoot - Eeklo 7 Zwijnaarde - Zevergem
2 Evergem - Assenede 8 De Pinte - Nazareth
3 Mariakerke - Zomergem 9 Sint-Martens-latem - Deinze
4 Oostakker - Zelzate 10 Melle - Oosterzele
5 Lochristi - Beervelde 11 Merelbeke - Gavere
6 Laarne - Wetteren 12 Drongen – Nevele
The following fixed lines will bring you close to the Ghent Festivities area:
• tram lines 1, 21, 22 en 4
• bus lines 3, 5, 6, 17, 18, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 65, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78
During the Ghent Festivities, all normal transport documents are valid, such as season tickets or a De Lijn card.
A good tip: buy your public transport pass in advance (at our advance purchase locations, our Lijn shops or from ticket machines). This way you will always save 50%.
Works on the Korenmarkt: tramlines 1 and 4 will also remain interrupted during the Ghent Festival and buses will continue to take alternate routes.
You will find more information in our special Ghent Festival folder (obtainable in the Lijn shops or, during the Ghent Festival, at the City of Ghent info point on Sint-Baafsplein).
Info: www.delijn.be or http://www.delijn.be/over/evenementen/Gentse_Feesten_2011.htm or 070 220 200 (0,30 €/minute)
By train - B-Event
From 16 to 25 July 2011, ask for a B-evenementenbiljet “Gentse Feesten” ( Ghent Festival” B-event ticket) and enjoy a 50% reduction of the train fare (2nd class). This ticket also includes transportation by De Lijn bus or a tram between the stations Gent – Sint – Pieters or Gent – Dampoort and the Ghent Festival area. The return trip can be started up to the day after the outward journey.
In every station, there is also a B-Daytrip Train + Rental bike on sale towards the cycling point Ghent Saint Peters. Reservation and information about this B-Daytrip is to be found in the brochure "Experience and Discover (Beleef en Ontdek)" which is available free of charge in all Belgian railway stations.
Info: NMBS, +32 (0)2 528 28 28, www.nmbs.be or in your railway station
By taxi
In the Steendam, the Limburgstraat and at Sint-Michielsplein there are taxi ranks available. The taxi brings you home safely and quickly. A trip from Ghent Saint Peters railway station towards the city centre or from Ledeberg towards the Festivities area costs approximately 12 euro. For the complete list of rates, consult the website www.gent.be/mobiliteit (onder autoverkeer/taxi)
On foot
For many people perhaps not the most evident choice, but whoever lives in and around the centre of Ghent, can best come on foot. People who live in Sint-Amandsberg, need only a 15 minutes walk to the Ghent Festivities area. It is then not necessary to look for a parking spot or a free bike parking space.
By bike
If you want to get the festival events inexpensively and quickly, then go by bike. A couple thousand extra cycle parks mean that you can safely leave your bike on the perimeter of the Festival area. Anyone who wants additional protection against bicycle theft can use the two free of charge guarded cycle parks on the Baudelokaai and under the Sint-Michiels Bridge. They are open 24/7 and are guarded from 4 p.m. in the afternoon until 4 a.m. in the morning. Signposts for cyclists point the way to the cycle parks.
Besides guarded cycle parks on the perimeter of the Festival area, hundreds of bicycle stands have been temporarily installed.
Guarded cycle parks:
Baudelokaai (650 spaces) and under the Sint-Michiels Bridge (250 spaces).
Unguarded cycle parks:
Sint-Jacobsnieuwstraat (150 spaces) Hoogpoort (40 spaces), Limburgstraat (100 spaces), Sint-Niklaasstraat (40 spaces), Korte Meer (70 spaces), Steendam (210 spaces), Kouter (100 spaces), Vlaanderenstraat (80 spaces), Baudelokaai (210 spaces), Justitiepaleis (125 spaces), Oude Beestenmarkt (100 spaces)
Info: 09 242 80 46 - max-mobiel@gent.be – www.max-mobiel.be
Taxicab
If you are too tired to do your own pedalling, then you can have yourself pedalled home by bicycle cab. They ride 2 p.m. in the afternoon until 6 a.m. in the morning start.
The rates:
2.00 € initial fare before 12 midnight.
3.50 € initial fare after 12 midnight.
0.40 € a minute daytime and night.
You'll find bicycle cabs at various locations on the perimeter of the Festival area. You can either hail a bicycle cab directly or book one in advance.
Info: 0477/21 28 63 - www.taxifiets.be - taxifiets@telenet.be.
With the motorbike
Whoever comes with the motorbike to Ghent, will find motorbike parkings at the Poel, Steendam and the Limburgstraat.
With the car
Although the municipal car parks are open 24/24 h during the Ghent Festivities, it is almost impossible to find a free parking space owing to the massive number of partygoers. Therefore, we advise car drivers to make use of the P+R possibilities (free parking + public transport: see previous page). Whoever wants to try and find a free parking spot anyway, can use one of the following municipal car parks:
Parking garage Vrijdagmarkt – Follow P1
Under the Vrijdagmarkt you will find 648 parking spots. This parking lies in the immediate vicinity of the Korenmarkt and Bij Sint-Jacobs. During the Ghent Festivities, this parking garage is only accessible via the Baudelostraat and not via the Kammerstraat.
Parking garage Sint-Michiels – Follow P7
This parking counts 472 places. Graslei, Korenmarkt and Emile Braunplein are situated nearby. As soon as all parking spaces are taken, it is useless to queue. Parking garage Ramen (P8) is the nearest alternative.
Parking garage Reep – Follow P2
In the Seminariestraat, you can find the underground parking garage Reep. This parking garage boasts 484 vehicles and is situated in the immediate surroundings of the Sint-Baafsplein and the Oude Beestenmarkt
Parking garage Ramen – Follow P8
This parking boasts 280 parking spaces. Graslei, Korenmarkt and Emile Braunplein are situated nearby.
Parking garage Sint-Pietersplein –Follow P10
This parking counts 700 parking spaces and is at close range of the Vooruit Arts Centre and the Festivities area.
Rates of the parking garages
During the Ghent Festivities, the parking garages Vrijdagmarkt, Ramen, Sint-Michiels and Reep will charge a rate of 1,5 € per hour with a maximum of 10 € for 24 hours.
The parking Sint-Pietersplein costs :
1 hour = 0,5 € * 2 hours = 1,50 € * 3 hours = 2 € * 4 hours – 24 hours = 2,5 €
Please bear in mind that the normal parking routs are interrupted during the Ghent Festivities. The alternative routs towards the parkings are indicated by temporary signalisation.
Information about parking: Parkeerbedrijf Stad Gent, +32 (0)9 266 28 00, parkeerbedrijf@gent.be
Parking for people with a disability
People with a parking card for people with disabilities will find spaces reserved for them in the Sint-Jansdreef (14 spaces), the Henegouwenstraat (section between François Laurentplein and Gouvernementstraat, on both sides of the street), Sluizeken (2 extra spaces) and de Poel (10 spaces).
Parking is free for them, also at other parking spaces on public roads where there is paid parking or restricted parking (blue zone).
Please note: a parking card for people with a disability does not allow you to park in spaces reserved for local residents.
